LIVING IN KUALA LUMPUR

Welcome to Malaysia. Diversity, Vibrancy, Intensity.

Kuala Lumpur: My home, it could be yours too!

There are many things one can do in KL.

Our school is right in the middle of the ‘green lung’ – parts of KL that are preserved. Driving to work everyday, there are stretches of green fields and old trees which are a rare sight in the heart of KL.

Flora & Fauna

Within 10-minutes driving distance of ASB is the Perdana Botanical Garden – built in 1888 – where you can see many types of tropical flowers, trees and plants – and also a herb garden. If you have been reading up on Malaysia, you would know how spices and herbs factored into our history centuries ago!

You can also camp, picnic, jog and bike around the botanic gardens, waterfalls and nature trails managed by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), located about 30-minutes away (by car).

For a change in scenery, outside the city centre, you can go hiking around the Kota Damansara Community Forest.

The Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve is a remnant of lowland mixed dipterocarp rainforest of 800 acres. At one time threatened by plans for clearing and housing development, the forest endures today, as an island of green amidst the urban sprawl because of its many friends and supporters.

With an award-winning architectural design, KLPAC has not only been a home to the arts community and a foster home for foreign troupes but it has become the very lifeline that keeps the arts and cultural life in Malaysia breathing.

KL is packed with cinemas! This market is still alive and competitive – ushering in different technology to enhance that movie experience: from IMAX to D-Box (where the seats move!), and we even have a cinema with beanbag chairs!

Our cinemas also hosts multiple foreign film festivals (such as the European Film Festival) too!

Tunes & Tales

…and Istana Budaya which hosts many local and international productions.

Exquisite Encounters

Another great place for a shot of espresso and culture is Publika! A mall with great grocers and eateries, Publika also hosts all kinds of events from Bon Odori to the Turkish Food Fair, Cooler Lumper and Cosplay competitions too!

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY: MALAYSIA & SOUTHEAST ASIA

For those interested in community work, there are soup kitchens you can volunteer at and also reading programs for underprivileged children you can participate in. In fact there is a website that helps pair up volunteers and NGOs needing assistance. http://beta.dogoodvolunteer.com

Want to explore neighboring countries? We happen to be the hub for the award-winning budget airline AirAsia; we are connected to cities across Southeast Asia and wider Asia. It has made our world a lot more accessible and allowed us to learn more about our own neighbors!

A favorite activity among locals is browsing at our Pasar Malam or night (malam) markets (pasar). If you love to walk amongst the locals, bargain with the locals, partake of our excellent array of fruit and just soak in some Malaysian atmosphere – check out a pasar malam near you!

Kuala Lumpur: My home, it could be yours too!
There are a BUNCH of things one can do in KL.

City life can sometimes get to me, so I cherish being so close to nature. Our school is right in the middle of the ‘green lung’ – parts of KL that are preserved. Driving to work everyday, there are stretches of green fields and old trees that I simply love!

Flora & Fauna

Within walking distance of ASB is the Perdana Botanical Garden – built in 1888 – where you can see many types of tropical flowers, trees and plants – and also a herb garden. If you have been reading up on Malaysia, you would know how spices and herbs factored into our history centuries ago!

A little further yet, you can go hiking around the Kota Damansara Community Forest.

The Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve is a remnant of lowland mixed dipterocarp rainforest of 800 acres. At one time threatened by plans for clearing and housing development, the forest endures today, as an island of green amidst the urban sprawl because of its many friends and supporters.

And while most people go to the KL Performing Arts Center for other (obvious!) reasons, I do enjoy Sentul Garden where it is located, also surrounding what used to be the Malayan Railway depot.

Stage & Screen
A convenient segue way, the KL Performing Arts Center (or KLPAC) is an excellent place for a myriad of performances by local and foreign groups.

It has not only been a home to the arts community and a foster home for foreign troupes but it has become the very lifeline that keeps the arts and cultural life in Malaysia breathing. An arts and cultural icon. Historical landmark. Award-winning architectural design.
There is nothing quite like klpac, really.

http://www.klpac.org
(is it possible to insert some photos from their website and give them credit?)

I am a bit of a movie buff myself – and KL is packed with cinemas that still fill up! This market still seems alive and competitive – ushering in different tech to enhance that movie experience: from THX to IMAX to D-Box (where the seats move!), and o my goodness is there really a cinema with beanbag chairs???

Look out for the European Film Festival too!

Tunes & Tales
For a little culture, there is of course the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra conveniently located at KLCC …

http://mpo.com.my
(is it possible to insert some photos from their website and give them credit?)

…and Istana Budaya which hosts many international productions and more recently the Laureus World Sports Awards hosted by none other than my favorite Brit actor Benedict Cumberbatch of BBC Sherlock fame!

Exquisite encounters
Another great place for a shot of espresso and culture is Publika! A mall with great grocers and eateries, Publika (some dub it an ‘artsy mall’) also hosts all kinds of events from Bon Odori to the Turkish Food Fair, Cooler Lumper and Cosplay competitions too!

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY: MALAYSIA & ASEAN
For those interested in community work, there are soup kitchens you can volunteer at and also reading programs for underprivileged children you can participate in. In fact there is a website that helps pair up volunteers and NGOs needing assistance. http://beta.dogoodvolunteer.com

The list could go on and on – has anybody alerted you to the fact that being the hub for the award-winning budget airline AirAsia, we are connected to cities across ASEAN and indeed Asia? It has made our world a lot more accessible and allowed us to learn more about our own neighbors!

But let me end with one other thing Malaysians enjoy – browsing at our Pasar Malam or night (malam) markets (pasar). If you love to walk amongst the locals, bargain with the locals, partake of our excellent array of fruit and just soak in some Malaysia – check out a pasar malam near you!